Triplett third after opener in NY
Matt Triplett, from Columbia Falls. Mont., rides Little Red Jacket during the Professional Bull Riders Buck Off at New York's Madison Square Garden, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Triplett
NEW YORK — Columbia Falls bull rider Matt Triplett continued his strong start to the 2017 season with an 87-point ride on the first day of competition at the Professional Bull Riders Buck Off at the Garden on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Triplett, who entered the new year as the No. 1-ranked rider in the world standings, was the first out of the chutes in the opening round. He didn’t disappoint the sellout crowd at the historic venue, remaining in full control as Little Red Jacket made a hard right turn out of the gates and spun around for the full eight seconds.
The 87-point score was enough for third place in the round, just slightly behind another Montana star. Volborg’s Jess Lockwood scored an 87.75 on Dennis The Menace to tie for the round win with Mason Lowe, who scored the mark on Slick Rick.
Melstone’s Nevada Newman was bucked from Legal Tender in 3.35 seconds, joining a vaunted list of riders bucked in the first round. Defending PBR world champion Cooper Davis, past champions J.B Mauney and Guilherme Marchi, and 2015 Rookie of the Year Kaique Pacheco were among the other riders to not post a score.
The event ends Sunday and will be broadcast live on PBR.com and later in the day on CBS Sports Network, at 6:30 p.m. MT on Saturday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday.